Three schoolchildren who started a fire in a disused factory "for a laugh" were one minute from death when they were rescued.

Emergency services were called to the empty building on Canal Street in Newry on Tuesday, February 16.

Three children, one as young as nine, had been seen messing about in the grounds of the factory just prior to the fire starting.

Firefighters went in and found the friends hiding in a corner masked by dark smoke.

A senior fire crew member told the PSNI these youngsters would not have survived if they had been found just one minute later. He said they would have died from smoke inhalation.

The PSNI spoke to the three children who told them they thought they would start a small fire "for a laugh".

Emergency services are now urging parents to warn their children of the dangers of fire and to be aware of what their children are doing over half term.

A PSNI spokesperson said: "Many thanks to the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue service today for their assistance. We received a report that the fire service were attending an ongoing fire at a disused factory on Canal Street, Newry.

"The Fire Service Crew Commander at the incident informed me that a member of the public had informed them of three young persons messing about in the grounds of the factory just prior to the fire starting.

"Firefighters entered the building where three young persons (youngest 9 years old) were hiding in a corner masked by dark smoke. They were safely rescued with only very minor smoke inhalation.

"Having spoke to the kids they thought they would start a small fire for "a laugh". A Senior Fire Officer has informed me had these children been located one minute later these young people would not have survived due to smoke inhalation.

"Thankfully today we were able to return these children to their families.

"Parents, on this half term week please be aware of what your children are doing!"